Carex misera

Buckl.

Wretched Sedge

G3Vulnerable Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129611
Element CodePMCYP038P0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Other Common Names
wretched sedge (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2018-08-14
Change Date1990-03-20
Edition Date2018-08-14
Edition AuthorsMorse, L. (1984), rev. D. Gries (1998), rev. Treher (2018)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Carex misera occurs on cliffs, outcrops, and balds in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. It is known from 50 to 60 occurrences. The primary threat to the species is recreation, trampling by hikers and rock climbers but most sites are protected by their inaccessibility to most people and activities.
Range Extent Comments
Carex misera occurs in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, central Tennessee, and Georgia.
Occurrences Comments
There are approximately 40-50 occurrences in North Carolina, 7 extant in Tennessee (2 additional historic occurrences), and one in Georgia.
Threat Impact Comments
Most sites are unsuitable for most anthropogenic land uses. The only real threats may be from hikers and rock climbers on high elevation rock outcrops.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in moist to wet, shaded (moss-carpeted) seeps over acidic rock outcrops, oak ledges, and spruce-fir forest/northern hardwoods/balds.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - ConiferWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferGrassland/herbaceousCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS2Yes
South CarolinaS1Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
GeorgiaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
Georgia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
North Carolina (3)
AreaForestAcres
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
References (2)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.